Monthly Archives: March 2012

Pittsfield, along with five other localities, became the first of Massachusetts new “Cultural Districts”, out of more than a hundred communities who’ve already applied. The distinction features new dedicated signage and an according listing on the State’s tourism website. While this does not bring with it any special funding, the designation is a tool that city cultural venues can use to bring in more money through grants and major gifts, as well as being an expected boost to overall tourism.

Mass. Treasurer Steven Grossman w/ Mayor Bianchi @ Taconic HS

Massachusetts State Treasurer Steve Grossman visited Pittsfield Friday, stopping in at Berkshire Bank, Starbase Technologies, and Luma’s Muffin and Mug, as well as taking a tour of facilities at Taconic High. Grossman viewed some of the results of the Small Business Banking Partnership he rolled out last may, and as a member of the state’s School Building Authority told local officials that “Pittsfield has waited long enough” for a new high school facility.

100-150 people, many in hoodies, turned out to Park Square Friday [TV coverage: WYNT or YNN] to protest the injustice surrounding the death of Florida’s Trayvon Martin. My op-ed yesterdaydelves into why I think that not only is it important to express solidarity on this occasion, but it is imperative to locallly internalize the truths that are made apparent by Martin’s death and its aftermath.

A heated battle with the Park Commission predicted by one of the area’s more hysterical pundits, over a park permit for the Pittsfield Positive People and Proud Pets event set for Kirvin Park, did not come to fruition Tuesday as the Commission approved the event in a manner similar to that of all acceptable park events which seek permission through the proper channels. Robbed of all real controversy to harp on, the Berkshire Blusterer and his pals then turned to sour grapes hemming and hawing about various technicals, like the lack of flags present in City Hall’s 203 meeting room, an issue which of course has nothing to do with the Park Commission, one of many boards and committees who utilize the room for meeting space.

Finally, the Berkshire Eagle partially indemnified itself against those who’ve said a sudden expose on Congressional candidate Andrea Nuciforo two weeks ago has caused it to look unbalanced in its coverage of the 1st Mass. District race. A story yesterday, also by investigative reporter Ned Oliver, revealed that Neal employed his son Brendan Conway Neal as an employee in his last two campaigns, to the tune of $28,500. Neal is one of 82 members of Congress who have used campaign funds to pay relatives for various functions, according to a recently released report. While this is in no way illegal, and Neal’s press secretary has defended the action, this could potentially crop up as a talking point in an election conversation that has mostly hinged on money.

Coming soon: Has the third Democrat vying for this seat, Alford’s Bill Shein, FULLY DISCLOSED HOW MANY DUCKS HE IS RAISING?

100-150 people gathered to take part in this important action, part of an increasing wave of gatherings as the cry for justice in Martin’s tragic and unnecessary death reaches a nationwide roar. Organizers and participants spoke eloquently about the significance of these events, local and nationally.

The local outcry over Travyvon Martin happens to coincide with the sentencing of Terrance Brown in the 2010 stabbing death of Jahda Martin, which took place less 50 yeards from where the rally took place. The coincidence reminds us that issues of crime and violence are broad in scope, complicated, and very much a local concern.

The emerging picture of what happened to Trayvon should be a reminder as Pittsfield goes forward with its growing neighborhood watch initiatives, that they must be absolutely vigilant of those whose motivations and agendas are grounded in racial, ethnic, or cultural prejudices. I hear a lot of talk about the “wrong elements” inhabiting Pittsfield, on North Street and elsewhere, and while sometimes this is in reference to legitimate concerns and actual criminal activity, all too often these veer into judgements based on race, on appearance, on clothing, hairstyle, what music someone is listening to or whether they’re carrying a skateboard. These are not issues that only effect other communities- the attitudes and ideologies that lead to such tragedies are alive and well in Pittsfield, Massachusetts.

Trayvon’s death and the justice system’s failure to properly take action on it are a painful example of the disastrous results that come of creating a civic culture based on superficial judgements and stereotypes rather than factual, behavioral realities.

Police and local residents need to make every possible effort to see that initiatives to address crime in the community retain their perspective, their internal vigilance, their respect for all people, and their humanity.

Monday Senators Benjamin Downing and William Pignatelli will host the Commonwealth’s Ways and Means Committee for a budget meeting in Pittsfield at Berkshire Community College, from 10-2. Boland Theatre will be awash in various state departmental directors, commissioners and secretaries.

SUPER TUESDAY is predicted to see lackluster attendance at Pittsfield polls, with President Barack Obama the only candidate on the ballot for registered Democrats, three Green-Rainbow candidates (with Jill Stein of Massachusetts holding the home advantage), and a winnowing crop of motley conservatives, none of which are likely to inspire hope in Berkshire Republicans of being the next Ronald Reagan. Most expect an easy win for Mr. Romney.

8AM Wednesday will see the monthly meeting of PEDA (Pittsfield Economic Development Authority). Of particular note, Mayor Bianchi will speak about his attendance of a recent meeting with the Mass. Life Sciences Collaborative, a quasi-public agency whose job is to help communities attract the sort of life science companies PEDA is seeking to recruit for its proposed federally funded center. At last week’s council meeting, the mayor said he had initially thought it would be easier to develop the proposals and grant writing necessary to pursue such opportunities, but after meeting with the statewide organization feels it will be more involved, citing this as one of the reasons behind his request to add additional members to PEDA’s board.

Later in the day, the Mayor and I will sit down for an interview that will form the first installment of a periodic column, probably called From the Corner Office, or something lame like that, unless I can think of better in the next couple of days…

THURSDAY, I will switch from interviewer to interviewee as I pull up a chair in the studio with Donna Todd Rivers on the ever-popularBerkshire Buzz from 1-2pm on WBRK 1340am. In this first-ever epic hour of radio the none-too-bashful Diva of Downtown will go there with Diplomatic Durwin on a crazy range of local issues, brouhahas and scandals in this no holds barred, no punches pulled, in depth discuss of All Things Pittsfield in which nothing is off the table… except Baseball.

And that’s prettymuch everything that will happen in Pittsfield this week… I kid, of course. You’d be nuts not to give a look at Cultural Pittsfield’s trusty weekly listing of arts & entertainment for the week, with music, theatre, films, Reverend Billy, et al, various board and committee meetings open to the public are always listed on the city calendar, and if you have your own event or story you want to get out, be sure to try the new Park Square Soapbox on Pittsfield.com -where you can blog on any local matter for an established and ever-growing crowd of site visitors, with all the usual social media sharing capabilities.

The hunt continues in earnest for the city’s most recent serial armed robber. A video released by Pittsfield Police of “La Mascara Bandida” (The Masked (female) Bandit, and by the way, it wouldn’t hurt you to learn a smidge of Spanish, Pittsfield) saw nearly 2000 views in the first 24 hours on youtube, or about 40 times the views vids of Pittsfield’s Mayoral Inauguration got in two months. PPD says they’ve gotten numerous tips in response, but no arrests as yet.

A systematic stake out of local convenience stores Saturday night verified a heavy police presence, with cruisers passing by or circling slowly at regular intervals at nearly a dozen surveyed locations.

Authorities on Wednesday released the name of the victim, John Castonguay of Pittsfield. Whether his death was an accident or suicide remains undetermined, according to Pittsfield Police.

While no new information or obituary has yet appeared, a cursory check of public records outlines a troubled history dating back to the man’s youth. Castonguay was a registered sex offender, dating back to a conviction for sexual abuse in 1985. Local police twice sought him out for failing to register as such, most recently in 2006. In 2008, Castonguay was arrested along with two other men for breaking into the Clock Tower building on South Church street in order to steal some scrap metal or tools.

THE CITY COUNCIL

….voted on several noteworthy issues Tuesday, including a move to expand the board of PEDA from 7 to 11 members, prohibition of non-essential heavy commercial vehicles on Melbourne Road, and a proposal by Councilor Clairmont that the city generate a list of desired but unfunded projects so that local businesses and philanthropists who may be so inclined to fund them.

While similar affirmations have been put forth by churches in Lenox, Williamstown, Stockbridge and Housatonic… we’re not any of those towns. In this somewhat more blue-collar, generally angrier, more reactionary little city, such an example by this iconic Park Square place of worship, Pittsfield’s oldest, is significant.

FISHY HIT AND RUN GETS FISHIER

In the ongoing sage of the most talked about local hit-and-run case in maybe ever, Meredith Nilan had not guilty pleas entered for her on her behalf at an arraignment at Central Berkshire Court on Wednesday. The case will be prosecuted by Springfield DA Joseph Quinlan and heard by Northampton Judge Michael Mulcahy, who set a March 21 pre-trial hearing date.

Curiously, the following day a motion to dismiss was filed by Nilan’s attorney, Timothy Shugrue, on the grounds that the court seems to be missing key paperwork on this case, including copies of the initial January show-cause hearing and subsequent re-hearing under Judge William Hadley. According to Shugrue, “No one appears to know where they went.”

Accusations have swirled for weeks that Ms. Nilan has received special treatment due to her father, Clifford Nilan, being a highly placed official within the court system – in this context, the revelation that documents are suddenly missing from this case is being viewed by many with extreme suspicion.

In other courthouse news, several individuals were sentenced this week on a variety of robbery, larceny, assault and drug charges. See Superior Court Briefs Feb. 27- Mar. 1 for the full lineup.

SUNS WILL REPLACE COLONIALS

Pittsfield’s new baseball team will be called the Suns, we were told this week. The Suns will have the same general manager as the failed Colonials team, but owners at the Goldklang Group assure us that a new business model, including “unconventional” promotional initiatives, will succeed where the previous franchise failed to hold water at Wahconah Park.